reports and consultations

From South Georgia Website

GSGSSI Update For IAATO 2010

GSGSSI update for IAATO 2010 can be downloaded here.

Consultation On The Future Use And Carriage Of Heavy Fuel Oil

Download here the consultation document on the future use and carriage of Heavy Fuel Oil by vessels operating within the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (SGSSI) Territorial Waters.

Comments on this document are requested by the end of August (email to here), in order to allow time for this subject to be discussed during the course of meetings being held in September.

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Financial Statements

The South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Financial Statements, for the year ending 31st December 2008, can be downloaded here in pdf format.

20th Annual General IAATO (2009) Meeting

Richard McKee's IAATO 2009 presentation can be downloaded here in Word format.

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Financial Statements

The South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Financial Statements, for the year ended 31st December 2007, can be downloaded here in Word format.

19th Annual General IAATO (2008) Meeting

Richard McKee's IAATO 2008 presentation can be downloaded here in Word format.

Recommendations Regarding Proposed SG Rat Eradication

This downloadable document (below) is the culmination of a year-long project funded jointly by GSGSSI and the UK’s OTEP Programme fund. It has been prepared for the Government by Darren Christie with significant input from Derek Brown (New Zealand DoC). We would like to thank Darren and Derek for their hard work.

The Government has considered carefully the issues raised, especially in the light of the commitment in ‘Plan for Progress’ to make rat eradication its highest priority which this document calls into question. Eradicating rats on the whole island of South Georgia is clearly a formidably challenging task. It is also one that would bring clear benefits to South Georgia’s wildlife. Any attempt to carry it out must therefore be considered carefully and thoroughly, so as not to jeopardise ultimate success.

In current circumstances, the Government is unable to devote the resources necessary for success to the eradication of rats on the Island. However the Government has already begun to raise standards of biosecurity and to develop an accurate GIS system for the island, both of which are pre-requisites of any successful eradication campaign.

Although not itself able to commit to an extensive rat-eradication programme, the Government will consider positively applications from other bodies who wish to carry out rat eradication on all, or part of South Georgia. Government’s role is therefore at this stage likely to be limited to permitting and oversight rather than implementation. As part of the permitting process Government would require peer review of project proposals by the Island Eradication Group in New Zealand, and preparation of a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (including ethical assessment) for publication in advance of project approval.

Click here to download the report in Word format.

South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Financial Statements

The South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Financial Statements, for the year ended 31st December 2006, can be downloaded here in Word format.

18th Annual General IAATO (2007) Meeting

Richard McKee's IAATO 2007 presentation can be downloaded here in Word format.

Financial Statements and Audit Report, 2005

The South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands Financial Statements and Audit Report report, for the year that ended 31st December 2005, can be downloaded here in pdf format.

Grytviken Remediation Report

By 1998, Grytviken Whaling Station’s deterioration was in full swing. GSGSSI, after advice on environmental management, commissioned a report, which showed that although asbestos was the major pollutant, oil residues and other hazardous materials still presented a threat to visitors and wildlife. One of the major hazards included flying tin and collapsing buildings that made entry to the area impossible in high winds. By August 2002 it had become apparent that the GSGSSI had, due to the potential for inhalation of airborne asbestos fibres, no choice but to address the issue at least for Grytviken. There were three options, to relocate to the new research station at the traditional administrative site of King Edward Point (KEP), to close the new facilities and leave the island or to undertake a comprehensive remediation project at Grytviken. Whatever else would happen, the other former whaling stations with asbestos would be closed to visitors. After two years of work by GSGSSI and the Morrison Construction Services (Falklands) Ltd and a number of dedicated teams of specialists and much ingenuity on South Georgia, Grytviken Whaling Station is now clean and free of hazards. It is open to visitors. This was a job well done and under budget by well over a million pounds. The report gives a detailed account of the amazing success story. Download report (5 x A4 pages, Microsoft Word format) here.

The GSGSSI Address to IAATO, Hamburg 2005

The South Georgia Government Update 2005 to the 16th General Meeting of IAATO can be downloaded in full here. The Update reports that 40 cruise vessels visited South Georgia this year and included 2 non-IAATO vessels which is two less than last season. Passenger numbers were however up from 3484 to 3766. The numbers of yacht visits was 18 with 52 passengers and 6 expeditions visited the island of which 3 were supported by IAATO. Albatross Island remains closed for the foreseeable future, a board walk is under consideration for Prion Island. Landing fees are being raised to £75 per person next season and then to £100 the following one. The completed Grytviken remediation project cost in £7.5m and is now open for visitors to see the machinery used for processing whales. Plans are under consideration for repairs to the Tijuca jetty to enable passenger landings and for yacht berthing. The Museum floor is due to be replaced next season. Analysis of dead Chinstrap Penguins from Cooper Bay have shown Avian Cholera to be the cause. Analysis of other samples should show whether Avian Cholera is endemic throughout the island. Last season a major nocturnal bird strike of approximately 1000 storm petrels involving a brightly light cruise vessel occurred near Drygalski fjord; measures were discussed to avoid such strikes in the future. IAATO helped with the arrest of the illegal long liner Elqui whose owners were fined £250,000 . Download the report (Microsoft Word format) here.

South Georgia Land and Visitor Management Report Response

Sally Poncet presented her report on the environmental impact of visitors to sensitive wildlife sites on South Georgia to GSGSSI. The Government has replied to all her recommendations. Download a summary here.

GSGSSI Addresses Gathering of Antarctic Tour Operators -2006

The 17th General Meeting of IAATO was held in April in Washington DC and South Georgia Government was represented by Richard McKee. This was an opportunity for the Government to discuss tourism management concerns directly with companies and vessel operators as well as updating members on current issues affecting their operations in South Georgia. The full text of the South Georgia presentation (Microsoft Word format) may be downloaded here.

GSGSSI Address to the SGA AGM

The address highlighted the fact that though increases in the number of paying visitors to the Island increases income to the Government, it also causes concern about visitor impact. An Environmental Impact Assessment for a proposed boardwalk to be constructed at Prion Island, where visitors land to see breeding Wandering Albatross and South Georgia Pipits, is underway.

The full text of the address is available here.